I was attending the Michigan Press Association’s annual convention in late January when I signed up to sit in on one of The Center for Michigan’s “community conversations.”

The Center for Michigan is a "think-and-do" tank with the objective to "make Michigan a better place by encouraging greater understanding and involvement in policy issues among the state's citizens and making sure their voices are regularly heard."Center for Michigan

I had no idea what to expect but I was curious, mainly because The Center is run by an old friend and colleague, John Bebow, who also happens to be a fellow Bronco.

The Center for Michigan has been holding these sessions throughout the state since last fall, gathering input from citizens on what they think is important for the future of our state.

The information from these sessions is regularly shared with leaders in Lansing in an effort to help shape sound public policy. According to The Center, past community conversations have helped lead to the expansion of public preschool in Michigan and reform state business taxes, among other things.

If you’re not familiar with The Center for Michigan, it is a politically centrist, public-policy think tank with a clear eye toward making Michigan a better place to live.

That is why when I attended their community conversation, and I was initially hesitant to participate, I gave it a chance. And I’m glad I did.

We were told right from the get-go that we were going to be asked our opinion, which immediately put me on edge. My years of practice as a reporter, especially covering politics, had taught me to bury my opinions, especially in public settings.

But their mechanism for getting participants to interact was so fun and engaging, I quickly set aside my inhibitions.

During the community conversation, participants are given electronic clickers to select answers to questions such as “How do feel about Michigan now?” The answers range from “great” to “despondent.”

The collective results from the entire group immediately appear in a bar chart on a screen. I knew right away how my opinion compared with others in the room, which I thought was fun.

The questions get much more detailed, delving into subjects such as the economy, education and tax policy. After sections of questions were finished, group discussions were held.

Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I enjoyed sitting in a room with people who care about Michigan, sharing our views of the state and its direction. Even when we disagreed, I found the conversation to be civil and respectful.

If you can make it to the session at Mt. Zion, I highly recommend it. If you can’t, there is an option to submit your opinions online at thecenterformichigan.net.

This, of course, is an important election year in Michigan. And no matter your political leanings, it’s a great time to make sure your voice is heard.